OTC vs Reserves while at Uni?

[UniStudent12345]

I'm currently in the UOTC and there are several students here who have gone off to Sandhurst during the summer holidays (or whenever) and stayed in the OTC as commissioned reserve officers, rather than joining an actual reserve unit.

I'm planning on doing the same next summer if I can, but I'm still not sure whether I should stay in the OTC or transfer to the local reserves unit? I have a friend on my course at uni who is a private in the local reserves and is planning on commissioning next summer too. He's trying to convince me to join the reserves with him while at uni and obviously most of the PSIs in the OTC are saying I'm better off staying. The OTC and the reserves share the same barracks and I know students in both, so both options are definitely feasible.

What would you suggest, bearing in mind I'm planning to join up full time after uni?

Would appreciate some advice!

 

[Lifeboat21]

I'm currently in the UOTC and there are several students here who have gone off to Sandhurst during the summer holidays (or whenever) and stayed in the OTC as commissioned reserve officers, rather than joining an actual reserve unit.

I'm planning on doing the same next summer if I can, but I'm still not sure whether I should stay in the OTC or transfer to the local reserves unit? I have a friend on my course at uni who is a private in the local reserves and is planning on commissioning next summer too. He's trying to convince me to join the reserves with him while at uni and obviously most of the PSIs in the OTC are saying I'm better off staying. The OTC and the reserves share the same barracks and I know students in both, so both options are definitely feasible.

What would you suggest, bearing in mind I'm planning to join up full time after uni?

Would appreciate some advice!

How long have you got at uni? How likely are you to stay in the area after?

If the answer is not long and you're moving it might be better to stay in otc.

be warned however that it can be a culture shock for some otc officers when they finally move to a unit proper. You'll have people who have done ops, long service or, like me, a full career in the regs. They won't take kindly to fits about adventure training and the bars you got in.

Why not pop in to your mate's unit and see what it's like?

 

[Gremlin]

Stay in the OTC and see if you can arrange a long term attachment to the Reserve unit.

 

[chrisg46]

Stay in the OTC and see if you can arrange a long term attachment to the Reserve unit.

Or, like one of ours, do a long term attachment to the OYC

 

[KSöze]

I'm currently in the UOTC and there are several students here who have gone off to Sandhurst during the summer holidays (or whenever) and stayed in the OTC as commissioned reserve officers, rather than joining an actual reserve unit.

I'm planning on doing the same next summer if I can, but I'm still not sure whether I should stay in the OTC or transfer to the local reserves unit? I have a friend on my course at uni who is a private in the local reserves and is planning on commissioning next summer too. He's trying to convince me to join the reserves with him while at uni and obviously most of the PSIs in the OTC are saying I'm better off staying. The OTC and the reserves share the same barracks and I know students in both, so both options are definitely feasible.

What would you suggest, bearing in mind I'm planning to join up full time after uni?

Would appreciate some advice!

If there's a 21 or 23 unit near you, I'd recommend that ... what I did.
Great sense of achievement and great exposure.
So long ago, that they might not even offer it anymore.
Every Wednesday night and most weekends.
Don't worry about ranks as the Ruperts only got to do paperwork as far as saw.
And never got to talk about beer stories as mostly trying to catch up with the peak fitness others on the 5 or 8 mile runs after each session. wasn't my greatest talent as outside did my normal quota of beer.
Only two from my squadron and 16 from over two hundred from the others made it through.
Most of those were ex regulars trying o do something more interesting as a hanger-on
To be honest, injury the biggest hindrance.
My CCF was real "adventure Training Focus" so never liked the look of the OTC, as appeared mostly socials and a lot of parades.
Can't actually remember doing a parade, and the Staffs made us walk around other bases with our hands in our pockets to piss of the rups

 

[Effendi]

How long have you got at uni? How likely are you to stay in the area after?

If the answer is not long and you're moving it might be better to stay in otc.

be warned however that it can be a culture shock for some otc officers when they finally move to a unit proper. You'll have people who have done ops, long service or, like me, a full career in the regs. They won't take kindly to fits about adventure training and the bars you got in.

Why not pop in to your mate's unit and see what it's like?

What he said.

OTC is a bubble, I saw the places for 18 months when I was attached to the recruitment liaison office and they are nothing like the real army, or even a reserve unit in most cases.

If it were me I would go to the reserve unit, lay my cards on the table with my career ambitions and see what the admin officer has to say. But, FFS make sure it is an interesting unit and not a field bath unit, or a postal courier squadron. If there is a para unit nearby trot along there and go get some wings, do Brecon and some other courses, get some decent tales of adventures on exercise and drunken nights in brothels into your portfolio and then join the regulars with a commission when you graduate.

 

[Lifeboat21]

^ does 4PARA get wings now? And I think reserve officers have to go through RMAS as a regular.

 

[Gremlin]

OTC is a bubble, I saw the places for 18 months when I was attached to the recruitment liaison office and they are nothing like the real army, or even a reserve unit in most cases.

Yes it's a bubble, for a very good reason - it's a training unit.

As such, it's a bloody sight easier to get on jollies from one, than from a line reserve unit.

By jollies I'm talking about the likes of PCBC, attachments to regular units, guns courses etc etc.

It's designed to give university students a wide taste of different areas of the army.

Hence me recommending staying within the OTC structure but seeking an attachment with a TA unit if desired.

Best of both worlds!

 

[Effendi]

Yes it's a bubble, for a very good reason - it's a training unit.

As such, it's a bloody sight easier to get on jollies from one, than from a line reserve unit.

By jollies I'm talking about the likes of PCBC, attachments to regular units, guns courses etc etc.

It's designed to give university students a wide taste of different areas of the army.

Hence me recommending staying within the OTC structure but seeking an attachment with a TA unit if desired.

Best of both worlds!

If he can get himself an attachment for a few months along with a decent exercise and not just for a couple of weekends.

 

[tearsbeforebedtime]

Yes it's a bubble, for a very good reason - it's a training unit.

As such, it's a bloody sight easier to get on jollies from one, than from a line reserve unit.

By jollies I'm talking about the likes of PCBC, attachments to regular units, guns courses etc etc.

It's designed to give university students a wide taste of different areas of the army.

Hence me recommending staying within the OTC structure but seeking an attachment with a TA unit if desired.

Best of both worlds!

If you're not recommending moving to a reserve unit post-commissioning then a training unit for what? For the OTC? A bit of a self-licking lolly pop with your argument. It's there to train officers, I'm sure there's a clue in the name somewhere, and if the officers are not able or qualified to move to a reserve unit, then what's the point in sending them to RMAS?

For those who want to experience the army life during uni and don't commission, then fine, stay OTC with all the trappings. If they commission, then I'd I'd expect some return on the investment.

 

[Gremlin]

If you're not recommending moving to a reserve unit post-commissioning then a training unit for what? For the OTC? A bit of a self-licking lolly pop with your argument. It's there to train officers, I'm sure there's a clue in the name somewhere, and if the officers are not able or qualified to move to a reserve unit, then what's the point in sending them to RMAS?

For those who want to experience the army life during uni and don't commission, then fine, stay OTC with all the trappings. If they commission, then I'd I'd expect some return on the investment.

That's a valid point....but....

If he's only got a 12 month run left at university, and plans to move out of the area following that, I'd suggest that moving to a unit only to have to shift again whilst bedding in, is wasting the unit's time and his.

 

[tearsbeforebedtime]

That's a valid point....but....

If he's only got a 12 month run left at university, and plans to move out of the area following that, I'd suggest that moving to a unit only to have to shift again whilst bedding in, is wasting the unit's time and his.

No, they'll gain 12 months experience planning training and working on career and 'man' management thus plugging a gap in woeful reserve officer recruiting. If they complete Ph2 in that 12 months, unlikely, in an arm different from one they're joining then they'll have a better appreciation of how all interact on the battlefield.

 

[captain scarlet]

Another few points to bear in mind. If you're planning on joining a technical corps when you eventually go regular, doing a stint at a same cap-badged reserve unit would do you well, given that OTC is only infantry based.
And don't forget about the bounty. OTC bounty is little more than peanuts, you'll get more moolah from a Reserves bounty, which you can then flash around the OTC bar to get all those OTC girls all a-dither.

 

[hackle]

Another few points to bear in mind. If you're planning on joining a technical corps when you eventually go regular, doing a stint at a same cap-badged reserve unit would do you well, given that OTC is only infantry based.
And don't forget about the bounty. OTC bounty is little more than peanuts, you'll get more moolah from a Reserves bounty, which you can then flash around the OTC bar to get all those OTC girls all a-dither.

Fair point about the bounty. Don't any UOTC have specialist subunits any more, eg med, engrs?

 

[devexwarrior]

When I was at uni - ok it was a bloody long time ago - I was in the OTC but did a lot of training with a TA (as it was then) Int Corps unit. The TA was very professional and hard working. The OTC was a bit more relaxed and fun, plus ther were lots of fit young things looking to use it as a high class marriage brokerage. Ironically everyone who I know from there who got married to their OTC sweetheart is now divorced. As for me, I failed RCB and my second year of Uni and joined the Int Corps as a soldier which was the best thing that ever happened to me. I still ended up with a degree, Masters and a Commission.

 

[Lifeboat21]

I still ended up with a degree, Masters and a Commission.

What about a Mrs?

 

[devexwarrior]

What about a Mrs?

That waited until I was a regular full-screw and I did the time-honoured thing and bagged a trainee while back on my T1 (at least she was Int Corps too, so standards were maintained and the offspring are pure blood).

 

[TheSockPuppet]

If there's a 21 or 23 unit near you, I'd recommend that ... what I did.
Great sense of achievement and great exposure.
So long ago, that they might not even offer it anymore.
Every Wednesday night and most weekends.
Don't worry about ranks as the Ruperts only got to do paperwork as far as saw.
And never got to talk about beer stories as mostly trying to catch up with the peak fitness others on the 5 or 8 mile runs after each session. wasn't my greatest talent as outside did my normal quota of beer.
Only two from my squadron and 16 from over two hundred from the others made it through.
Most of those were ex regulars trying o do something more interesting as a hanger-on
To be honest, injury the biggest hindrance.
My CCF was real "adventure Training Focus" so never liked the look of the OTC, as appeared mostly socials and a lot of parades.
Can't actually remember doing a parade, and the Staffs made us walk around other bases with our hands in our pockets to piss of the rups

Opinions of 21/23 differ greatly depending on whether the person judging is in 21/23 or not.

Those serving in the Artistés' Rifles think that they are great and they are a real asset to Defence.

Those who are in other parts of the Army think they are a bunch of walty cnuts who have the same standards as the RAF Regt crossed with the TA and shouldn't be allowed to wear the winged dagger. UKSF tried to move them out of the group, but like cat shit on a carpet, they are amost impossible to shift.

If you want to grow sideys that would shame John McCririck, cut around with your hands in your pockets calling everyone mate and generally look like a tramp whilst simultaneously being a figure of fun for all regular soldiers, join the TA SAS.

If you want to do soldiering properly, do AOSB and go to regular Sandhurst.

If you are a bit of a commitment phobe, join the TA.

If you have no interest whatsoever in doing any military stuff post Uni, just stay in the OTC, chin off the TA commissioning course and be last man standing in the OTC bar every night.

 

[Gremlin]

... The OTC was a bit more relaxed and fun, plus ther were lots of fit young things looking to use it as a high class marriage brokerage. Ironically everyone who I know from there who got married to their OTC sweetheart is now divorced...

The only 'unit sweethearts' I knew were arrested and done for cheating on 'Who Want to be a Millionaire?'

 

[Gremlin]

Don't any UOTC have specialist subunits any more, eg med, engrs?

I was a bit surprised by that as well, unless he only has experience of one of the smaller OTC's?